Detained minors held handcuffed for hours

Sunday, November 20, 2016, 19:45 Five minors were detained by Temple Mount police on patrol in the early afternoon on Sunday, November 20, on suspicion of prostrating themselves in prayer and held in remand for over six hours.
The five minors, including 13-year old boys, were held at the Merchav David (Old City) Police Station in Jerusalem. Honenu Attorney Rehavia Piltz, who visited them and gave legal counsel, was horrified to discover that they had been handcuffed and leg-cuffed for many hours, in violation of the law.
The five minors told Piltz that Yassam (Special Forces) policemen had very violently detained them. One of the detainees reported that a Yassam policeman had pulled his payot.
“13- and 14-year old boys have been handcuffed and leg-cuffed for many hours already as if they were the worst criminals,” said Piltz as he left the police station. “One of the detainees who requested that his leg-cuffs be loosened had his request denied by a policeman who added, ‘You don’t talk during interrogation. I don’t talk to you.’
“This is unacceptable use of hand and leg-cuffing and corporal punishment on minors. I call on the upper echelon of the Israeli Police and the appropriate minister to take notice. Such a blatant violation of minors’ rights by policemen should keep every citizen awake at night, certainly when the accusation is for an act which should not be considered a infraction of the law.”